History, Facts and
Information about Lucius Verus - Joint Emperor with Marcus
AureliusThe content of this article
provides interesting history, facts and information about
the Emperor Lucius Verus and the all-powerful Caesars who
ruled the empire of Ancient Rome.
The word "Caesar" was originally the name of the famous
aristocratic patrician family of ancient Rome and became
synonymous with the Roman Emperors.

Refer to
the comprehensive
List of Roman Emperorsfor the names of the most famous Romans, their dynasties and the historic eras of all the Roman Emperors and usurpers.

Short Biography
about the life of Lucius Verus
Short Biography profile and facts about one of the most famous Romans of all, in the life of
Lucius Verus, Emperor of Rome and provinces of the Roman Empire.

Place and Date of Birth:
Lucius Verus was born 15 December 130 in Rome

Name of previous Emperor: His predecessor or the Emperor before Lucius Verus was
Antoninus Pius

Date succeeded as Emperor of
Rome and circumstances of rule: March 8, 161 - Marcus Aurelius
needed to share the government of the empire with Lucius Verus, his
adopted brother, who was strong and healthy but was, however,
addicted to licentious pleasures.

Short Biography of Lucius Verus
Obtain a fast overview of the times of the Roman Emperor
Lucius Verus from the following facts and information about his life. Why was Lucius Verus famous?
Accomplishments, achievements and important events: In the previous
reigns Antoninus Pius had made Marcus Aurelius his associate
in the government of the Roman Empire. Due to bad health
Marcus Aurelius needed to share the government of the empire
with his adopted brother, Lucius Verus, who was strong and
healthy but was, however, addicted to all forms of
licentious pleasures.

Interesting facts
about the life of Lucius VerusLucius Verus was tall, well-proportioned and
genial of expression. His beard was allowed to grow long,
almost in the style of the barbarians. Lucius Verus had a
stately air about him. He was vain and took such pride in
his blond hair that he used to sift gold-dust on his head in
order that his hair, thus brightened, might seem even
brighter. Lucius Verus enjoyed a lavish lifestyle in the
company of actors, drinkers and gamblers. He often went to
common brothels and taverns. These activities were
interspersed with visits to the chariot races and gladiator
games. Lucius Verus favored the greens in the chariot
races, the team that was supported by the common mob.

Lucius Verus and the Parthian WarThe Parthian king, Vologeses III, invaded the
eastern provinces. Lucius Verus was sent to quell the
Parthians but left the ffighting to his generals who
succeeded in the task. The Parthian Empire consisted of
Armenia, Mesopotamia, Iran, and Afghanistan, providing
access to the Silk Road, the trade route between the
Mediterranean Sea and China. Lucius Verus wasted his time in
Athens allowing his army to quell the barbarians. In A.D.
166 Lucius Verus returned to Rome, took the credit for the
successes and claimed a triumph. His army brought the plague
with it from the East which desolated Rome and much of
Italy. In A.D. 168 the twin emperors escaped the plagued
city of Rome to go North to the provinces around the Danube,
where they mounted a military offensive against the
threatening barbarians of the Germanic tribes. Verus died in
A.D. 171 riddled with either the plague or a disease from
his dissolute lifestyle. Lucius Verus was thirty-nine years
old.

Antonine DynastyThe Nervan and
Antonine dynasty consisted of the "Five Good Emperors" (Nerva,
Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, and Marcus Aurelius)
together with Lucius Verus, who ruled jointly with Marcus
Aurelius, and Commodus the son of Marcus Aurelius.